Winfried Schäfer Stresses Team Unity and Respect in Black Stars Setup
Black Stars Technical Advisor Winfried Schäfer has emphasized the need for unity among Ghanaian players, stating that success in football is not solely determined by individual talent but by teamwork and cohesion.
Schäfer’s comments come as Ghana prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, where the Black Stars will face Chad and Madagascar in crucial fixtures in March
Speaking on the composition of the Black Stars, Schäfer highlighted Ghana’s vast talent pool, which includes locally-based players, Ghanaian footballers in Europe, and foreign-born players of Ghanaian descent.
According to him, blending these groups into a cohesive unit is the key to achieving success on the international stage.
“Ghana has very good players, very good players around in Europe, the local players, and the players born in Ghana who play in Europe. These three types of players we have to bring together. That’s very important,” Schäfer stated.
The veteran German coach, who previously led Cameroon to AFCON glory in 2002, stressed that individual brilliance alone does not guarantee victories, but rather a well-structured team with a unified mindset.
“Not the best players win matches, but the best teams win matches—when all play together. Nobody should say, ‘I am from Real Madrid, I am from Arsenal, I am from this or that.’ No, everybody has to be proud to wear the shirt of Ghana,” he emphasized.
Beyond team spirit, Schäfer underscored the importance of creating the right conditions for players to thrive. He called for greater respect towards the players and the provision of quality facilities to support their development.
“We have to work for the players. We give them respect, we help them with good training fields, and we help them with good pitches for football,” he added.
His words serve as a rallying call for both players and stakeholders to prioritize team unity, professionalism, and infrastructure development as Ghana seeks to return to the World Cup stage.
